The Anambra State governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Success Ezenwafor, a pupil of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Primary School who was swept away by flood in Isiagu, Awka South LGA of the state. Success was on his way to school last Tuesday when the school bus conveying him and other occupants was trapped and overturned by floodwaters.
Nine other occupants of the vehicle, seven schoolchildren and two adults, were rescued alive by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command in collaboration with concerned residents and taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (Amaku), Awka. Success, however, was swept away by the flood and remained missing until his remains were recovered on Wednesday morning.
Soludo, reacting to the development, said the profound loss has deeply touched the Ezenwafor family, the entire Nnamdi Azikiwe University Primary School, the good people of the Ekwulobia community in Aguata LGA, and the entire state, drawing widespread sorrow among citizens and leaders alike. The governor conveyed his sympathy on Sunday, speaking at the Cathedral Church of St. Faith in Awka during a church service commemorating Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
During the church service, Soludo shared in the grief of the bereaved and offered fervent prayers that Almighty God grants the family, the school, and the community the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable separation. The governor used the solemn occasion to issue a vital public safety call, urging Ndi Anambra to take immediate action by containing rainwater running off from their compounds, refraining from blocking drainages, planting trees, and actively cleaning drainage systems.
Soludo emphasized that everyone has a critical role to play in safeguarding their communities, so as to prevent future occurrences of this sad development. He urged the public to use the tragedy as a catalyst to take personal responsibility for the environment. The governor's statement underscores the need for collective action in preventing such tragedies from occurring in the future.
On his Facebook page, Soludo reflected on Nigeria's 66th Independence anniversary, noting that nation-building is a collective responsibility that requires resilience, sacrifice, and active participation. He emphasized that true freedom is about a people determining their own destiny and that governments will come and go, but Nigeria remains.
Soludo reiterated his commitment to peace, progress, and good governance in Anambra, and prayed that Nigeria continues to rise, and Anambra continues to win. The governor's message of condolence and safety awareness comes as a reminder of the importance of community responsibility and environmental stewardship in preventing such tragedies.
Key points
- Anambra State governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has expressed his condolences to the family of Success Ezenwafor, a pupil swept away by flood in Isiagu, Awka South LGA of the state.
- Soludo urged Ndi Anambra to take immediate action to prevent future occurrences of flooding by containing rainwater, refraining from blocking drainages, and cleaning drainage systems.
- The governor emphasized that nation-building is a collective responsibility that requires resilience, sacrifice, and active participation.
